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The Boss of Big Town

From IMDb: Diligent City Market official Michael Lynn resists overtures by well-to-do gangster Kenneth Craige to fix produce and dairy prices during wartime. Lynn seems unable to stop the resulting sabotage and violence on the part of the mob to bring the farmers and wholesalers into line and so is fired by city attorney Jeffrey Moore. After Lynn's assistant Bram Hart is murdered for going to the authorities, Lynn takes responsibility for his daughter and feigns co-operation with Craige in order to discover the real boss of the criminal enterprise. Lynn unmasks Moore as the corrupt head, and the conspiracy is exposed and foiled.

I love these film noir masterpieces! This one had lots of heart and compassion and worked out for the best in spite of the evil that pervades the produce business in this period piece. The young girl who is left without her father who was killed goes on to be loved in the end and in so doing puts up a strong will to survive. A very enjoyable "crime" story with heart!

This film was released on Dec. 7, 1942, one year to the day after Pearl Harbor and the country was already into a war mode. Prices controls, victory gardens and rationing were already in place. Racketeers and hoarders were a fact of life. This little film with John Litel as the rough, tough wholesale marketer, Florence Rice as his newspaper reporter girl friend play off each other well. Jean Brooks and (ill-fated) David Bacon are also good second leads. The supporting cast of H.B. Warner, John Miljan, Mary Gordon, and others are fine. It moves along very well. This is the complete film. Video is O.K. Soundtrack is scratchy. From PRC. A relic, but enjoy the history lesson.